Method and system for providing voip services

ABSTRACT

A VOIP service and method is provided which comprises an redirecting dialer device (RDD), which connects a telephone to a POTS circuit. Responsive to DTMF signals from the telephone representative of a long telephone distance number, the RDD intercept the DTMF signals and transits alternative DTMF signals representative of an alternative telephone number of a PSTN/VOIP gateway server. Once connected to the PSTN/VOIP gateway server, the RDD then transmits the DTMF signals associated with the original long distance number. The VOIP gateway server is operative to convert the analog signals from the telephone into digital and packetized VOIP data which is transmitted through a public or private IP-based network to a remote telecommunication device associated with the original long distance telephone number. If the DTMF signals from the telephone are representative of a local telephone number, the RDD is operative to forgo transmitting the alternative DTMF signals.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a method and system for providing voice overInternet protocol (VOIP) services. Specifically, this invention relatesto a method and system for increasing the accessibility of VOIPservices.

BACKGROUND ART

Telephone communication (telecommunications) has been around for over100 years. In general the telecommunications industry has been broadlybased on analog telephone services which use a public switched telephonenetwork (PSTN) to provide phone call connections between differentanalog telecommunication devices. Telecommunication providers connecttheir customer's calls by employing equipment that monitors dual tonemulti-frequency (DTMF) signals (or tones) transmitted from customers'analog dialing device over a plain old telephone service (POTS) circuit.These tones are decoded by the equipment in the telecommunicationprovider's office, to determine the telephone number to which the callis to be made. The equipment then typically attempts to connect the callthrough traditional circuit transmission of the PSTN to the POTS circuitassociated with the determined telephone number.

Although analog telephone services still dominate the industry,individuals are beginning to replace their analog telephone serviceswith newer technologies such as voice over Internet protocol (VOIP)services (also called Internet telephony, IP telephony and Voice overInternet). VOIP services provide a method of making digital andpacketized phone calls over an IP-based network. The VOIP services aretypically marketed to households or businesses that already pay for abroadband Internet connection (e.g., through Cable, DSL, T1). VOIPcapable phones typically include a wired or wireless Ethernet connectionwhich connects the VOIP phone to an IP-based network that has access tothe broadband Internet connection. Also personal computers may beadapted to include a headset and appropriate software for making andreceiving VOIP phone calls over the broadband Internet connection. Inother embodiments, a VOIP analog telephony adapter (ATA) may be used tomake and receive VOIP phone calls over a broadband Internet connection.Such VOIP ATAs typically have: a RJ-11 port for connecting an analogphone; and an Ethernet port for connecting the ATA to a broadbandInternet connection. The VOIP ATA includes the necessary circuitry toencode/decode analog voice communications associated with the analogphone to/from packetized VOIP data transmitted through the broadbandInternet connection. As used herein, whether in the form of a VOIPphone, a VOIP configured computer or an analog phone connected to a VOIPATA, such devices or combination of devices which are capable ofestablishing and receiving VOIP phone calls over an Internet connectionare referred to herein as VOIP client devices.

VOIP services may offer free or at least relatively inexpensive localand long distance telephone services to homes and business that haveacquired a broadband Internet connection. However, not all homes andbusiness have access to a broadband Internet connection. If such homesand business are located in a rural location, cable or DSL Internetaccess may not be available. Thus homes and business located in ruralareas without broadband Internet access are unable to acquire VOIPservices to make phone calls. In addition, even homes and business whichdo have the ability to acquire a broadband Internet connection, may findthat the total cost of the broadband Internet access and the cost of aVOIP service may not be cost effective with respect to an analogtelephone service. Thus there exists a need for a system and methodwhich enables VOIP services to be more widely available and/or more costeffective to employ. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of an exemplary embodiment to provide a method andsystem for providing voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) service.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment to provide a methodand system which enables VOIP services to be more widely availableand/or more cost effective to employ.

Further objects of exemplary embodiments will be made apparent in thefollowing Best Modes For Carrying Out Invention and the appended claims.

The foregoing objects may be accomplished in an exemplary embodiment bya VOIP system and method capable of establishing a phone call made withan analog telecommunication device such as an analog phone through aVOIP service without using a broadband Internet connection and/or anATA. In the exemplary embodiment a VOIP call is initiated by firstestablishing an analog based call through a public switched telephonenetwork (PSTN) with the system. In an exemplary embodiment, the systemis operative to convert the analog based call into packetized VOIP datathat is transmitted through an IP network. The system may be operativeto terminate the call with a VOIP client such as a VOIP phone on a VOIPnetwork. Also after transmission through a VOIP network, the system maybe operative to reconvert the VOIP data back into an analog signal whichis terminated with another analog phone of another PSTN.

In this described exemplary embodiment, the initial analog call is madeto a phone number associated with the system. Once an analog phoneconnection is established with the system, dual tone multi-frequency(DTMF) signals representative of the desired phone number the userwishes to call are transmitted to the system. The system is responsiveto these DTMF signals to determine an IP based address which can be usedto transmit the call through the VOIP network to the remotetelecommunication device associated with the desired number.

An exemplary embodiment comprises using a redirecting dialer device(RDD) connected between an analog telecommunication device and a POTScircuit of a PSTN. The RDD is operative to intercept and monitor firstDTMF signals representative of a first telephone number from the analogtelecommunication device. The RDD is operative responsive to at least aportion of the first DTMF signals to determine whether alternative DTMFsignals representative of an alternative telephone number should betransmitted. In this described exemplary embodiment, the alternativetelephone number is associated with a PSTN/VOIP gateway server.

Typically, the RDD determines that the alterative DTMF signals should betransmitted when it detects DTMF signals representative of a longdistance telephone number. For example, initial DTMF signalsrepresentative of the numeric numbers “1” or “011” may trigger thisdetermination. Once the RDD determines that the alterative DTMF signalsshould be transmitted, the RDD transmits the alterative DTMF signalsthrough the POTS circuit to establish analog telephone communicationsthrough a PSTN with the PSTN/VOIP gateway server associated with thealternative telephone number. Once the call is established with thePSTN/VOIP gateway server, the RDD is operative to transmit the firstDTMF signals to the PSTN/VOIP gateway server through the PSTN.

The PSTN/VOIP gateway server is responsive to these first DTMF signalsto establish telephone communications between the analogtelecommunication device and a remote telecommunication deviceassociated with the first telephone number. This process includes thePSTN/VOIP gateway server converting the analog telecommunications fromthe analog telecommunication device into digital VOIP data which istransmitted through an IP-based network. When the RDD does not detectDTMF signals representative of a long distance number, the RDD isoperative to forgo transmitting the alternative DTMF signals. Instead,the RDD transmits the first DTMF signals which establishes a local phonecall through the PSTN to the remote telecommunication device associatedwith the first telephone number.

It is to be understood that although the described RDD may be used tocoordinate the interception and submission of the alternative and firstDTMF signals, in alternative exemplary embodiments a user may manuallyperform the above described steps. For example, a user could manuallyuse an analog phone to establish an analog phone call with the phonenumber of the VOIP service (e.g. the number associated with thePSTN/VOIP gateway server) and then manually key in the appropriatenumbers on the analog phone to send to the PSTN/VOIP gateway servercorresponding DTMF signals representative of the desired number to call.

In an exemplary embodiment, the PSTN/VOIP gateway server of the VOIPservice may be in networked communication with a VOIP server (e.g. VOIPproxy server, registrar) operative to direct the VOIP data from thePSTN/VOIP gateway server to the remote telecommunication device. Suchremote telecommunication devices may include VOIP client devices such asa PC, VOIP phone, an analog phone connected via an analog telephonyadapter (ATA), or any other network device that is operative to connectto a broadband network connection to make and receive VOIP phone calls.In addition, the remote telecommunication devices may include an analogtelecommunication device such as an analog phone connected to a PSTNnetwork. In such cases, the VOIP server may direct the VOIP data throughthe IP-based network to another PSTN/VOIP gateway server which isoperative to establish the call with the remote analog phone.

Although the VOIP server has been described as being used with aPSTN/VOIP gateway server to direct VOIP calls that originate from ananalog phone, it is too be understood that a VOIP server may also beused to direct VOIP data that is transmitted between VOIP client devicesin operative connection with the IP-based network without going througha PSTN/VOIP gateway server.

In exemplary embodiments, the PSTN/VOIP gateway server is operative todetermine identifying data associated with the analog telecommunicationsoriginating from the calling analog telecommunication device. ThePSTN/VOIP gateway server is operative to determine whether theidentifying data corresponds to a customer account that is permitted toaccess the PSTN/VOIP gateway server. Such identifying data maycorrespond to caller ID data that identifies the telephone numberassociated with the POTS circuit through which the analogtelecommunications is delivered. Such identifying data may also includean account number and/or password transmitted by the RDD to thePSTN/VOIP gateway server in the form of DTMF signals. Alternativeexemplary embodiments of the RDD may also be operative to generate DTMFsignals which include an encrypted form of the identifying data. ThePSTN/VOIP gateway server may be operative to cause the identifying datato be decrypted before it is used to authorize the call. Authorizationof the call may be performed by the PSTN/VOIP gateway server and/or maybe carried out through communication with an authentication server orother device operative to authorize access to the system responsive tothe identifying data.

As will be appreciated, the foregoing objects and examples are exemplaryand embodiments need not meet all or any of the foregoing objects, andneed not include all or any of the exemplary features described herein.Additional aspects and embodiments within the scope of the claims willbe devised by those having skill in the art based on the teachings setforth herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a system forproviding VOIP services.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the operation of a redirecting dialerdevice used in an exemplary embodiment of the system for providing VOIPservices.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, there is showntherein a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a system 10 forproviding voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) services to customers in amanner which does not require the customer to use and/or have abroadband Internet connection. The system is comprised of at least onePSTN/VOIP gateway server 12. The PSTN/VOIP gateway server is inoperative connection with a plurality of analog telephone lines 22 of apublic switched telephone network (PSTN) 26. Such PSTN analog lines mayinclude trunk lines associated with direct inbound dialing (DID) numbersand/or access numbers provided by a telecommunication company operatingportions of the PSTN. The PSTN/VOIP gateway server 12 is operative toreceive through the PSTN analog lines a plurality of analog telephonecalls originating from analog telecommunication devices 24 through atleast one PSTN 26. Such analog telecommunication devices 24 may includeanalog telephones, facsimile machines, telephony capable alarm systems,or any other analog telecommunication device that is operative toconnect to a plain old telephone service (POTS) circuit 28 of a localtelecommunication company and make telephone calls through a PSTN.

The PSTN/VOIP gateway server 12 comprises one or more gateway servers orgateway devices capable of converting the analog signals in eachanalog-based call received through the PSTN analog lines into digitaland packetized VOIP data which is transmitted through an Ethernetnetwork connection or other IP-compatible network connection of thePSTN/VOIP gateway server. As used herein, VOIP data corresponds to datathat conforms to a VOIP protocol such as H.323 and session initiationprotocol (SIP) or any other VOIP protocol that is suitable fortransmission through a private IP network 16 or a public IP network suchas the Internet 18. In addition the underlying voice/sound informationin the VOIP data may be appropriately compressed/decompressed usingcodecs compatible with the VOIP protocols and systems.

Such VOIP data may be transmitted through the IP-based network to remoteVOIP client devices 50 also connected to the IP-based network. Asdiscussed previously, such VOIP client devices 50 correspond to deviceswith network connections operative to connect with a broadband Internetconnection device to send and receive VOIP communications through theInternet. Examples of VOIP client devices include: personal computerswith VOIP software; VOIP phones with built in wired or wireless Ethernetconnections; and analog telephones attached to VOIP analog telephonyadapter (ATA) with an Ethernet port.

As is also known in the art, VOIP data may be transmitted through theIP-based network to another PSTN/VOIP gateway 20 which is operative toconvert the packetized VOIP data back into analog signals fortermination through a PSTN with a remote analog telecommunication device60.

In this described exemplary embodiment, the operation of the one or morePSTN/VOIP gateway servers is carried out as part of a VOIP service. Sucha VOIP service may also include other software operating on thePSTN/VOIP gateway server or other computer systems operative to: routeVOIP data, locate network addresses of VOIP devices, monitor call usage;authenticate users, bill customers; provide a web or telephony baseduser interface for configuration of customer accounts; and carry out anyother telecommunication or business process operative to run the VOIPservice. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the VOIP service may includeadditional VOIP servers 90 such as VOIP proxy servers operative todirect VOIP data across the Internet.

In this described exemplary embodiment, the users operating the analogtelecommunication devices (24) are customers of the VOIP service. Suchcustomers pay a subscription fee on a time based and/or usage based planwhich permits them to call through their analog telecommunicationdevices (24) through a PSTN to one or more VOIP service telephonenumbers associated with at least one PSTN/VOIP gateway server of theVOIP service.

Thus in this described exemplary embodiment, customers of this describedVOIP service must also have the ability to make analog calls through aPSTN. Thus a typical customer will also have a PSTN based telephonecalling service through a local PSTN telecommunication company.

To minimize the fees incurred with using the PSTN telephone service tocall the described VOIP service, in exemplary embodiments, the VOIPservice telephone numbers may include a plurality of different localcalling numbers for different geographical areas in which customers ofthe VOIP service are located. Such local VOIP service numbers enablecustomers to call a local number which minimizes their fees foraccessing the VOIP service. In addition, one or more of the VOIP servicetelephone numbers may include a toll free number. Such VOIP servicetelephone numbers may be connected to the PSTN/VOIP gateway server usingDID numbers acquired from one or more telecommunication companies. Adescription of exemplary methods for acquiring DID numbers for use withexemplary embodiments, is described in more detail below.

In the exemplary embodiment, customers of the described VOIP servicewill typically only use the VOIP service when making long distancecalls. Local calls can be made through their local PSTN service. Asshown in FIG. 2, to automate the process of connecting long distancecalls through the described VOIP service and local calls through a PSTNservice, the exemplary embodiment includes placing a redirecting dialingdevice (RDD) 30 between the analog telecommunication device 24 (e.g.,phone, fax, alarm system) of the customer and the analog telephone line(POTS circuit) connected to the PSTN 26 of the local telecommunicationcompany.

In an exemplary embodiment, the RDD may be in the form of an adapterwith a RJ-11 port 74 for inserting an RJ-11 phone line jack of an analogtelecommunication device such as an analog telephone or other analogtelephony device. The adapter may also include a line 76 or otherconnecter with a RJ-11 jack operative to be inserted into a wall mountedRJ-11 port or other telephone port to connect to the POTS circuitconnected to a PSTN. In alternative exemplary embodiments the RDD mayhave other connectors and forms suitable to connect one or more analogtelecommunication devices to a POTS circuit connected to a PSTN.

In an exemplary embodiment, the RDD may include a controller 70 adaptedto monitor dual tone multi-frequency DTMF signals generated by theanalog telecommunication device. Such DTMF signals are typicallyintended to represent a phone number of a remote telecommunicationdevice to which the customer intends to establish a call. Thetelecommunication device generates a different DTMF signal for eachdifferent number pressed on the keypad of the device. However,telecommunication devices may also output DTMF signals stored in amemory of the device such as by activating a speed dialing feature of aphone. Also, telephony devices such as a security or alarm monitoringsystem may have circuits capable of generating preprogrammed DTMFsignals for use with establishing a call to an alarm monitor service orother remote system.

The controller of the RDD is operative to intercept the DTMF signalsbefore the signals are transmitted to the PSTN. The controller of theRDD monitors the intercepted DTMF signals to determine if a potentialtelephone number associated with the DTMF signals corresponds to a localor long distance call. For example, the DTMF signals may begin with anumeric prefix associated with a long distance call such as “1” or“011”. An exemplary embodiment of the DTMF is operative to monitor DTMFsignals associated with these numbers at the beginning of a stream ofDTMF signals. If these long distance number indicating DTMF signals arenot detected, then the controller is operative to transmit the receivedDTMF signals to the telephone line (POTS circuit) connected to the PSTN.The PSTN service of the customer may then attempt to establish the localcall to the telecommunication device 32 associated with the DTMFsignals.

If, however, the long distance number indicating DTMF signals (e.g.signals representing “1” or “011”) are detected, then the controller isoperative to store data representative of the received DTMF signals in amemory device 72 and in place of these signals, transmit alternativeDTMF signals to the telephone line (POTS circuit) connected to the PSTN.The alternative DTMF signals correspond to one of the telephone numbersof the previously described VOIP service. Data representative of theVOIP service telephone number may be stored in the memory device 72 ofthe RDD.

Responsive to the alternative DTMF signals, the PSTN service of thecustomer may then attempt to establish the call (typically a local callor a toll free call) to the PSTN/VOIP gateway server 12 associated withthe DTMF signals. Upon connecting with the PSTN/VOIP gateway server, theRDD is operative to transit the originally intercepted DTMF signalswhich correspond to the telephone number that the customer is attemptingto make. In the exemplary embodiment, the PSTN/VOIP gateway server isoperative to cause a telephone number corresponding to the DTMF signalstransmitted from the RDD to be determined. The PSTN/VOIP gateway serveris further operative to cause a telephone call to be established with aremote telecommunication device 50, 60 associated with the determinedtelephone number. As discussed previously, the telephone callestablished by the PSTN/VOIP gateway server includes communication ofthe call through an IP-based network such as the Internet or a privateTCP/IP network. To facilitate this communication, the PSTN/VOIP gatewayserver converts the analog signals originating from the customer'stelecommunication device into digital VOIP packetized data suitable fortransmission across the Internet or a private network. Likewise, withinthe same telephone call, VOIP packetized data from the remotetelecommunication device 50, 60 is converted by the PSTN/VOIP gatewayserver into an analog signal and transmitted through the PSTN connectionto the customer's analog telecommunication device, thereby establishingtwo-way telecommunication.

As discussed previously, the described VOIP service is operative tocharge customers using analog phones for the ability to route longdistance calls through the VOIP service. This business model may becompetitive with traditional long distance through a PSTN, because, thetotal cost of the local call to the VOIP service and the service chargesfor transmitting calls through he VOIP service are less than traditionallong distance calls made through a long distance carrier.

In addition, by using an RDD, customers have automatic access to bothless expense VOIP-based long distance calls and continued access tolocal calling services provided by their local telephone company such as411, 611, 911, and 0 services. In addition, unlike VOIP client devices,an external AC power source is not needed (for VOIP devices, cable/DSLmodems, gateway, firewalls, hubs etc.) to make VOIP calls through thedescribed VOIP service. The RDD in an exemplary embodiment includes acontroller that is capable of being powered through the current providedby the POTS circuit. If there is a power outage in which electricalservice to the home or business is out, assuming the analog POTScircuits to the local telecommunication company are still working, thecustomer can continue to make long distance calls through the describedVOIP service.

In an exemplary embodiment, the PSTN/VOIP gateway server is operative totrack identifying information associated with calls made to the VOIPservice. Such identifying information may correspond to the datarepresentative of the caller telephone number (e.g. caller ID) includedby the PSTN in the analog signal received by the PSTN/VOIP gatewayserver. In alternative exemplary embodiments, such identifyinginformation may correspond to a customer specific number, provided bythe RDD in the form of DTMF signals or other signals. Such acustomer-specific number may correspond to an account number, passwordor a unique identification number(s) stored in the memory of the RDD.

The PSTN/VOIP gateway server is responsive to such identifyinginformation to determine if the telephone line and/or RDD from which thecall is originating is associated with a customer account that ispermitted to use the VOIP service. In the exemplary embodiment thePSTN/VOIP gateway server may include or be in operative connection witha database 80 which stores such customer identifying information inassociation with account information for the customer of the VOIPservice. The PSTN/VOIP gateway server may also be operative to storeusage information in the data store for the calls made by each customerthrough the VOIP service. Such usage information may be used by computersystems of the VOIP service in generating and/or calculating billinginformation for each customer.

As discussed previously, in the exemplary embodiment, data associatedwith the alternative telephone number for the VOIP service is stored inthe memory 72 of the RDD 30. The controller 70 of the RDD may be adaptedto enable the telephone number of the VOIP service in the memory to beupdated using DTMF signals representative of programming orconfiguration commands. The controller for example, may be responsive toDTMF signals representative of the non-numeric symbols of “*” or “#”alone or in combination with DTMF signals representative of numbers togo into a state or mode which enables features of the RDD to beconfigured using DTMF signals. Once in this mode, the controller may beadapted to respond to specific DTMF signals to update the VOIP servicetelephone number and or other operating features of the device.

In the exemplary embodiment, DTMF signals for configuring the RDD may beproduced by the customer using the numeric keypad of an analog phoneconnected to the RDD. In other exemplary embodiments, the DTMF signalsmay originate from the PSTN/VOIP gateway server. For example, the VOIPservice may wish to have customers use a new telephone number to accessthe PSTN/VOIP gateway server. Thus after the RDD connects to the VOIPservice using the original VOIP service telephone number, the PSTN/VOIPgateway server may transmit a series of DTMF signals which are operativeto configure the RDD to store the new VOIP service telephone number inthe memory of the RDD. The DTMF signals may include DTMF signals whichdirectly correspond to numbers representative of the new phone number.However, in alternative exemplary embodiments, the DTMF signals mayinclude DTMF signals which correspond to an encrypted form of the newphone number. The RDD may be operative to decrypt the encrypted newphone number before storing it in the RDD and/or before using it to callthe PSTN/VOIP gateway server.

In addition, to avoid confusing the customer by sending an unexplainedseries of DTMF signals that are audible through a phone, the PSTN/VOIPgateway server may be operative to transmit a voice recording or messageto the analog communication device, which requests the user to remainpatient while the RDD is being updated.

In further exemplary embodiments, the RDD may include other featureswhich enhance the user experience of the described VOIP service. Forexample, in an alternative exemplary embodiment, rather than mountingthe RDD between an analog telecommunication device and a telephone walloutlet and/or telephone line, the RDD may be adapted to mount a portionof the telephone circuit in a home or business which enables the RDD tomonitor/intercept DTMF signals generated by any of the many analogtelecommunication devices (phones, faxes) connected to the same circuit.

In addition, further exemplary embodiments of the RDD may includebuttons, dials, levers or other input devices which cause the circuit ofthe RDD device to modify the analog signal so as to increase or decreasethe volume outputted by the speaker of an analog phone. In addition,further exemplary embodiments of the RDD may include a circuit which iscapable of performing voice recognition on the analog signals. The RDDmay be responsive to voice commands detected in the analog signal tocarry out various functions. Such functions may correspond toconfiguring and updating the RDD with a new VOIP service telephonenumber. Such functions activated by voice commands may also includefunctions for storing and retrieving speed dial numbers in/from thememory of the RDD.

In exemplary embodiments, the RDD and the PSTN/VOIP gateway server maybe operative to encrypt/decrypt numbers sent via DTMF signals. Forexample, the previously described identifying data used to authenticatethe user, may be encrypted by the RDD and decrypted by the PSTN/VOIPgateway server using symmetric and/or public key cryptography. Also, inalternative exemplary embodiments, the RDD and PSTN/VOIP gateway servermay use other forms of analog signals to transmit identifying data,phone numbers, and other data therebetween. Further, in furtherexemplary embodiments, the PSTN/VOIP gateway server may be operative toencrypt/decrypt the voice communication transmitted through the analogtelephone line.

In exemplary embodiments, DID numbers (e.g. telephone numbers) may beacquired from one or more telephone companies to connect analog phonelines from many different geographical areas and/or rate areas to one ormore of the previously described PSTN/VOIP gateway servers. Exemplaryembodiments may include methods of acquiring DID numbers for use withthe described VOIP service.

For example, one exemplary method may include forming an organization oradapting an existing organization to have competitive local exchangecarrier (CLEC) status. Such an organization is referred to herein as aCLEC and in general corresponds to a telephone company with facilitiesin multiple regions. This described method may further include havingthe CLEC acquire blocks of numbers from the North American NumberingPlan Administration (NANPA). Once the CLEC has control of the numbers,the method may include the CLEC contracting with a plurality of localexchange carriers (LECs) to have the telephone numbers in differentgeographical regions routed to the CLEC. The contracting with the LECsincludes the CLEC acquiring large trunks, to pass traffic in/out of theCLEC's network. The method may then include the CLEC using these numbersto connect analog calls to the previously described VOIP service.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment, rather than forming a CLEC toprovide the previously described VOIP services, the method may includeforming an organization or adapting an existing organization to provideVOIP services by acquiring or adapting network facilities (e.g. T1, T3,DS3) from a carrier such as an existing CLEC or a LEC. Such anorganization may acquire telephone numbers from the carrier who providesthe network facilities. This alternative method may include theorganization contracting with the carrier to acquire available telephonenumbers from the carrier's current pool of numbers.

The method used will depend on the resources available to theorganization being formed to provide the described VOIP services. Forexample, the CLEC corresponds to a regional business operating in agroup of geographically adjacent rate centers. A CLEC must havesufficient resources to acquire blocks of numbers for that territory andthen find LEC's to land/route the traffic. In contrast, an organizationthat does not have sufficient resources to acquire CLEC status mayinstead contract with one or more CLECs or LECs for telephone numbers.

To maximize market reach, both approaches would likely prefer to haveall rate centers covered everywhere in North America. However, for anorganization that does not have CLEC status, it may be cost prohibitiveto install facilities in each rate center. Therefore for such anorganization, the method may include partnering with a national carrierthat already has a significant networks. Examples of such nationalcarriers may include Level3, XO, and ATT/SBC. In some cases, thenational carrier may even operate media gateways and other higher levelfacilities on behalf of the organization providing the described VOIPservice. For example, the described PSTN/VOIP gateway servers may beoperated by a national carrier and the authentication of the users maybe carried out through communication between the PSTN/VOIP gatewayservers and remote authentication servers operated by the organizationmarketing the VOIP services.

It is too be understood that the above described methods for formingorganizations and acquiring DID numbers for use with the previouslydescribed VOIP service, are only examples of some of the manyembodiments that may be carried out. In alternative exemplaryembodiments, the described gateways, routers, DID numbers, IP networks,VOIP proxy servers, authentication servers, and other described elementsmay be organized in different configurations and/or controlled by one ormore different entities depending on the network facilities used and thecontractual arrangements that may be made by the different entitiesinvolved.

Computer software instructions used in operating the PSTN/VOIP gatewayserver and other computer systems of the described VOIP service may beloaded from computer-readable media or articles of various types intothe respective computers. Such computer software may be included on andloaded from one or more articles such as diskettes, compact disks, DVDsand other optical or magnetic media. Such software may also be includedon articles such as hard disk drives, tapes, flash memory drives orother storage devices. Other articles which include data representativeof the instructions for operating computers in the manner describedherein are suitable for use in achieving operation of automated bankingmachines and systems in accordance with exemplary embodiments.

Thus the VOIP service and systems described herein achieves one or moreof the above stated objectives, eliminates difficulties encountered inthe use of prior devices and systems, solves problems and attains thedesirable results described herein.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clarity and understanding; however, no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom, because such terms are used for descriptive purposesand are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the descriptions andillustrations herein are by way of examples, and the invention is notlimited to the exact details shown and described.

In the following claims any feature described as a means for performinga function shall be construed as encompassing any means known to thoseskilled in the art to be capable of performing the recited function, andshall not be limited to the features and structures shown herein or mereequivalents thereof. The description of the exemplary embodimentincluded in the Abstract included herewith shall not be deemed to limitthe invention to features described therein.

Having described the features, discoveries and principles of theinvention, the manner in which it is constructed and operated, and theadvantages and useful results attained; the new and useful structures,devices, elements, arrangements, parts, combinations, systems,equipment, operations, methods and relationships are set forth in theappended claims.

1. A method of providing telecommunication service comprising: a)through operation of a redirecting dialer device (RDD), which connectsan analog telecommunication device to a POTS circuit, receiving firstdual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signals representative of a firsttelephone number from the analog telecommunication device; b) throughoperation of the RDD, responsive to at least a portion of the first DTMFsignals, determining whether alternative DTMF signals representative ofan alternative telephone number should be transmitted, wherein thealternative telephone number is associated with a public switchedtelephone network (PSTN) /voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) gatewayserver; c) through operation of the RDD, responsive to determining in(b) that the alterative DTMF signals should be transmitted, transmittingthe alterative DTMF signals through the POTS circuit to establish analogtelecommunications through a PSTN with the PSTN/VOIP gateway serverassociated with the alternative telephone number; d) through operationof the RDD, transmitting the first DTMF signals to the PSTN/VOIP gatewayserver through the PSTN; e) through operation of the PSTN/VOIP gatewayserver, establishing telecommunications between the analogtelecommunication device and a remote telecommunication deviceassociated with the first telephone number, including causing throughoperation of the PSTN/VOIP gateway server, the analog telecommunicationsto be converted to digital VOIP data which is transmitted through an IPnetwork.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: f)through operation of the RDD, receiving second DTMF signals associatedwith a second telephone number form the analog telecommunication device;g) through operation of the RDD, responsive to at least a portion of thesecond DTMF signals, determining whether the alternative DTMF basedtelephone number should be transmitted; h) through operation of the RDD,responsive to determining in (g) that the alterative DTMF signals shouldnot be transmitted, transmitting the second DTMF signals through thePOTS circuit to establish analog telecommunications through a PSTN witha second remote telecommunication device associated with the secondtelephone number.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein in (b) thefirst telephone number includes numbers indicative of a long distancenumber.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein in (b) the firsttelephone number includes a numeric prefix of “1” or “011”.
 5. Themethod according to claim 3, wherein in (g) the first telephone numberincludes numbers indicative of a local call.
 6. The method according toclaim 3, wherein in (g) the first telephone number is “911”.
 7. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the PSTN/VOIP gateway server is innetworked communication with a VOIP server operative to direct the VOIPdata to the remote telecommunication device, further comprising: f)enabling through operation of the VOIP server, VOIP data to betransmitted between VOIP client devices in operative connection with theIP-based network.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein in (f) theVOIP client devices communicate with the VOIP server through broadbandInternet connection devices.
 9. The method according to claim 8, whereinin (f) at least one of the broadband Internet connection devicesincludes at least one of a DSL modem and a cable modem.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein in (a) the analog telecommunication deviceis located in a building that does not include a broadband Internetconnection device.
 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the RDDincludes a controller capable of carrying out causing the RDD to carryout (b) (c) and (d), wherein the controller is powers by the POTScircuit.
 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the RDD includes acontroller capable of causing the RDD to carry out (b) (c) and (d),wherein the controller includes a memory, wherein data representative ofthe alternative DTMF phone number is stored in the memory.
 13. Themethod according to claim 12, further comprising: g) through operationof the controller, modifying the data stored in the memory associatedwith the alternative DTMF phone number responsive to DTMF signals. 14.The method according to claim 13, further comprising: h) receiving theDTMF signals from the analog telecommunication device.
 15. The methodaccording to claim 14, further comprising: h) sending the DTMF signalsto the RDD from the PSTN/VOIP gateway server through the PSTN.
 16. Themethod according to claim 15, further comprising: i) prior to (h)sending analog telecommunication signals representative of a voicemessage to the RDD from the PSTN/VOIP gateway server through the PSTN,wherein the voice message verbally indicates that the RDD is beingupdated.
 17. The method according to claim 1, further comprising,operating the PSTN/VOIP gateway server to receive a plurality of analogtelephone calls through at least one PSTN from a plurality ofredirecting dialer devices (RDDs), wherein each of the plurality of RDDsis in operative connection between a different respective analogtelecommunication device and a different respective POTS circuit,wherein each of the plurality of analog telephone calls are establishedby the respective redirecting dialing devices transmitting thealternative DTMF signals through a respective POTS circuit.
 18. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein in (e) the IP-based networkincludes the Internet.
 19. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising: f) determining with the PSTN/VOIP gateway server,identifying data associated with the analog telecommunications; g)determining that the identifying data corresponds to a customer accountthat is permitted to access the PSTN/VOIP gateway server; wherein (e) iscarried out responsive to (g).
 20. The method according to claim 19,wherein in (e) the identifying data corresponds to a telephone numberassociated with the POTS circuit.